Researching Your Health
Session 1 - Starting Your Research
Course Section
- Introduction
- Starting Your Research
- Senior Health
- Healthfinder.gov
- AARP Health Guide
- Medline Plus
- Conclusion
Write down all of the things you want to know about your medical condition and treatment. What did the doctor say that you don’t fully understand? Now that you’ve had some time to think about it, what else do you want to know? Since each medical condition and treatment plan is so different, we’ll leave it to you to put together your own personal list. The important thing is to make a written list.
AARP compiled a detailed list of questions that we suggest you ask about each of your medications. Print the list. You’ll need it as you do your research.
Once you have your list ready, let’s begin.
First Research Step: Your Patient Information Leaflet
Your first research source is the easiest to find. It’s the patient information leaflet that comes with your prescription medicine. Another name for this leaflet is consumer medicine information, or CMI.
The leaflet is different than the multi-fold package insert that may come with your prescription drug. That insert has chemical and other scientific details about your medication. It has language geared to health care professionals, and type that is usually quite small.
The patient, or CMI, leaflet uses language that is easier to understand, with type size that’s usually more readable. The leaflet – sometimes it’s just a page – has essential information about how to use your prescription safely, and what to watch out for. Read every word, and keep your leaflet for future reference.
Then check what you read there against what you’ve understood from your doctor or pharmacist. If something doesn’t fit, call to ask one of them.
For instance, your doctor said to take your new blood pressure or cholesterol medication with meals. You always drink a glass of grapefruit juice with breakfast. The information leaflet says that drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit with one of these medications changes how the drug works. When you check with your doctor, you learn that the leaflet is right. You must not take your medication with grapefruit – or even with tangelos, which are hybrids of grapefruit and another fruit.
To meet targets for the year 2006 set by the Food and Drug Administration, some private organizations and companies have been working to improve the quality of CMI leaflets. However, it’s a good idea to compare the leaflet with your own research. And keep asking questions of your doctor and pharmacist until you’re satisfied.
Why Do More Research?
Even after talking with your doctor or pharmacist, you may still have answers to fill in. Many consumers do more research to answer the Why and How questions on their list.
First, you can match your condition with appropriate treatment. This will help you understand why a medicine is right for you – or not.
Second, you can find important tips on how to use your medicines. Many consumers focus their research on how to avoid potentially dangerous interactions and how to deal with possible side effects.
For example, are you still curious about why your doctor has prescribed a certain drug for you? Are you wondering what other experts say about treating your medical condition or disease? Is there something else you and your doctor might try before using medicines, such as diet or other lifestyle changes?
In just a few minutes of web research, you can find accurate, consumer-friendly information about your condition and its treatments. Prescription drugs are the standard treatment for many conditions. But you may learn about over-the-counter drugs to try first, or different prescription drugs. A new drug you’ve seen advertised on TV may not be the best first choice for you. And sometimes there are alternative treatments that don’t involve drugs.
Seeing what options other people with your condition have explored can also be helpful. Some Internet message boards are full of valuable tips. Start with health sites whose Web addresses end in .gov, .edu, or.org. A government agency, an educational institution, or a professional organization sponsors these. They often list other reputable groups.
Most of all, don’t replace medical advice with what you find on the Internet. Instead, use what you learn to talk with your doctor.
Use One of These Research Sources
AARP suggests four easy-to-use Web sites to help answer your questions. Each further session will look at one of these sites and let you practice getting information from that site. Once you’ve practiced, you can start with any one of these Web sites to look up your personal condition and a range of treatments, including medicines.
In Session 2 we'll learn what's available at the Senior Health Web Site.
All material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Consult your health care professional for advice relating to treatment of a medical problem or condition.
